Booster actuating mechanism for pressing machines



Aug. 23, 1932.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1929 INVENTOR.

fimzw A TTORNEYS I E. DAVIS Aug. 23, 1932.

BOOSTER ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Filed April 25. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 XNVENTOR j m/ ATTORNEYS m "STATES PATENT" o FI C Y innnss'r DAVIS, or SYRACUSE, NEWYORK, AssIGNoR o THE. PRosrERITY comrniw, i

' a Figure 3 is an .Figure 4 is an Patented Aug. 23, 1932 mo or SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ACORPOR AYTION o'rfnnw YQ'RKH' BOOSTER ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR PnEssING ivtAcHInns V I Application, filed April 25,

This invention relates to pressing machines, as garment and laundry pressing machines, and has for its object a particularly simple and efficient actuating mechanism therefor, by which a practically uniform pressure is delivered regardless of the thickness ofthe work or .the padding on one or bothopressing elements, and regardless of the amount of compression the padding undergoes within limits during the pressing operation. v v

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinaftcrset'forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views. r

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a pressing machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 Lean enlarged fragmentarysectional-iview, taken, approximately on line 2+2, Figure l. L

elevation of parts seen in Figure 2. v r

enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 4. l-, Figure 1.. .Eigure .5 is adetail viewypartly broken away, of the detent for holding the camfrom rotation until the toggle straightens. V The invention comprises, generally, a toggle' and connections between a prime mover or the actuator and the toggle to successively straighten the toggle and lengthen one of the links thereof or boost the toggle during the closingof the press, and also means operated byithe boosting movement to hold the links from further pivotal movement, that is, hold them in anyone of an indefinitenumber of positions that they may assume when the movable, pressing element encounters the work on the other pressing element of the machine.

h I have here illustrated my inventionas embodied in the convent onal type of press ng machine comprising a stat onary pressing element or buck 1 and a movable pressing element or head 2 movable toward and from the buck. Thebuck 1 18 mounted on a suit- 1929. Serial no. 358,142.

able bracket or goose neck which in turn is mounted on a table 4 of theframe5 of the machine. ried at the front end of a yoke lever 6 which is pivoted between its ends at 7. to astandard S'rising from theframe-5. y

L The buck 1 is overlaid with pressible padding 9. r

the usual The head 2 is here'shown' as; car.-

The actuating mechanism includes atoggle and means for successively straightening and boosting thetogglc, and locking the toggle during the boosting operation. The boost-V ing action is 'here illustrated .aS effected by lengthening one of the links'of the toggle-instead of boosting the entire toggle.

The means for, operating the toggle is, preferably, power actuated, andjas here illustrated' the power meansicomprises an oscil-v lating cylinder 1-0 having a piston movable therein, the rod 11 ofwhichflis connectedto the toggle mechanism to be presently .de-

scribed to successively stra i'ghten and boost the toggle duringthe .closing operation of the press. p 7

The cylinder 10 is in the -machine here illustrated is arranged in nearly horizontal position and is pivoted at 12to the frame; The cylinder is normally arranged inclined down wardly out of the horizontal and is movable into and slightlyabove the horizontal during n and closing of the press. The piston is single, acting and the press is openedwhen the pressure in the cylinder is released by suitable countersprings 13. There are additional check springs as 14 which tendfto momentarily retrad the closing of the press or to overcome the momentum ,ofthe press head just prior'to thetimethe head goes under final pressure, These springs 13, ll areconnected to the rear: arm of the yoke lever 6. V

The flow of motive fluid, as compressed air,

to and from the cylinder 10 is effected by any suitable valve mechanism controlled b y operator-operated means, as? push buttons, one of which is illustrated at 15. The control mechanism forms no part of this invention.

The piston rod 11 constitutes a rec-iprocae ing actuator for the'toggle mechanism. 163116. 17 designate, respectively, thetoggle links, these links being pivoted together themember-202m preferably a rodslida-ble in thetubiilar'meflibe'r' I7 'Th'eteggie is con- A nected to the actuator 11 by connections which act to straighten the toggle or substantially straighten it depending upon-thethickness of the work and the amount of compression of thepaddi-ng 9, v r 1 I The member 17 a of thelink -17 is connected to thepivot pin18 of "the toggle to have a radial movement and in'the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the member 17 is formed with bifurcations'21 at its lower end between which the upper end of the link 16 extends, and-'thebifurcations are formed with lengthwise slots-22 in their lower ends "in which bearingfblocks 23 slide; "The pivot pin 18 of the joint "'of'the toggle" extends through the-upper end ofthe link 16 and is journalled in "these bearing blocks 23. The slidingmovement of the bearingblocks is resisted by" suitable means, liere illustrated as springs 24, located in the slots and thrusting against the upper sides of the bearing blocks. Thus the toggle links arfepivoted together by a'j oint consisting of thepin -18 and'bearing blocks 23 in slots 22"whic'h' permit longitudinalmovementofone of the -links,'that is, the upper link member 17?. v This longitudinal movement-is normally prevented or resisted, until the head comes down on'tofthe buck, by the springs 24, that is, there is no longitudinal movement until 'the"toggle assumes any one-of an indefinite number of substantiallystraightened positions, which"occur when the head2 comes down-on {the w'orkon the buck '1 and begins to go under final pressure; The exact position of the toggle at such time will depend'on the thickness of'theworkfi a The relative radial'smovement of thelinks 16 and 17 is primarily for the purpose of applying a locking force tolock the toggle in any "one of an indefinitenumber of positions. a The locking'means he're'shown has ,a frictionor braking actionf Thislocking means comprises bra'kmg surfaces in the form of grooves 25 provided-fin"brackets ;26-on -opposite sidesof the link 16 below the joint of the toggle and brake shoe s 27 coacting with "said surfaces, these brake shoes being pro vided at the {lower ends of extensions-28 on the link member 117*, :these 1 extensions 28 extending below the joi-ntof-the' toggle; The

ing the straightening of the toggle, and when the head 2 encounters sufficient resistance, the link member 1'7 is moved downwardly longitudinally bringing the shoes 27 into coaction with the brake surfaces 25, thus look ing the toggle in'theposition'occupied at the time. v v The upper ment of the member or rod20. I v.

The yoke lever-6 is formed double in the usual manner or has its rear end formed with bifurcations 29 in which the pivot pin 30 connecting thelink members 17, 20 is end "of thetogglemember 17 is pivoted to the rear arm of the yoke lever 6 to permit such radial movement and to also permit the boosting .or longitudinal movemounted. The upper end of the link member 17f is formed with lengthwise'l'ong'itw' dinal slots 31 through which the pivot pin 30 extends and the link member :orrod 20 is" formed with a pivot bearing 32 on thepin 3.0.

The slots 31 are shown as formed in bifurcations 33 in the upper end of the link member 17* and the bearing 32 shown as mount 'ed between the bifurcations. vThe'toggle is boosted or the link-17 extended by sliding the rod 20 and this boosting operation is effected by cam means carried byoneof the links, preferably the link 17 and specifically the memberl'? thereof and coacting with the lower end of the rod 20. V

' 34 designates a ro-taryscroll cam mounted uponaspindle 35 journa-lled in bearings 36 formed in the bifurcations 21 ofv the link member 17 at a point spaced apart from the pivot 18 of the toggle. I The cam coacts with a follower or roller 37 at the lower end of the rod 20.

The connections between the actuator or the piston rod 11 and the toggle serve tosuccessively straighten the toggle and then: ro-

tate the shaft 35 to operate the cam to boost the toggle. These connections comprise a rock arm 38 mounted'on one-end of the spin- 7 dle 35 and pivoted at 39' tothe piston rodor actuator 11", the rock arm 38 extending at an angle to the piston rod or actuator '11;

Means is provided'for normally'locking the cam 34 from rocking while the toggle is straightening, this means being releasable automatically by the downward'movement of the link member 17*- When thehead 2 goes under pressure on the buck. I

This means is shown as a detent 41, coacting with'teeth 42 on the hub 43 of the cam 34, the detent being inounted on the joint or pivot 18 'of the toggle and extending upwardly along one of the bifurcations of the link member 17a and having a toothed-end le-engaging theteeth on -the hub 43. Nortil the head 2 encounters the resistance of the buck, whereupon the toggle-is momentarily subjected to, compression while straightening and the link member, 17 is moveddownwardly carrying the cam shaft before referred to.

with it and the teeth on its hub} outof engagement with the detent 41 or the hook: shaped end 44 thereof so that the cam shaft is free' to rock during further movement of the piston rod andbo'ost the rod 20to apply final heavy. pressure and hence compensate for compression of the padding. 7 If the lift of the cam is steep enough the detent feature may be omitted. i

WVhen the press is open, the parts occupy the positions shown in. dotted center lines, Figure 1. 'When air-is permitted to enter the cylinder 10 upon the depression of the push button 15, the piston rod 11 moves outwardly and its motion is transmitted to the toggle through the rock arm 38 straightene ing the toggle. Evidently, no rockingof the shaft 35 occurs duringthe straightening of the toggle. As the toggle vstraightens and the head 2 comes down on the work into preliminary closed position and begins to compress the padding 9, the "link member 17 is moved downwardly longitudinally under the,

reaction of the resistance offered toathe head 2 and causes the pivot pin 30 to press against the lower ends of the slots 31., This down- ,Ward'movemerit causes the brake shoes 27 to engage the brake surfaces 25 and hold the toggle from further straightening movement. Thereupon the force of the piston rod 11 rocks the arm 38 into the broken line position-A and hence rocks the, cam 34' causing the lift of thecam' to boostxthe rod or the link member 20 upwardly, this upward movement pressing the pivot pin 'towards the upper ends of the slots 31,1thus further moving the head 2 until the resistance of the head is greater than the force of the cam whereupon the movement of the p ston rod 11 is stopped. v r y The presstis held closedby the pressure against the piston andthe air pressure is held in the cylinder as long as desired by any suitable valve means not necessary to describe.

The valves are released to release thepressure in the cylinder to permit the press to open by a suitable trip lever 40 not herein- Upon the release of the pres'surein the cylinder, the reverse of the operation just described takes place, that is, the rock arm" 38 first rocks the cam retrogradely out of its operated position or from the dotted, line position A, Figure 1, andthismovementper: V lmi-ts the toggle tounlock, that is, the link member 17? to move'long-itudinally under he influence of the springs 24 so that the toggle is unlocked and free, to fold duringithe opening of thepress effected by the countersprings 13, Insofar as this invention is concerned, the

actuator 11 may be actuatedbyfootorany motor means and the motor may be controlled in anymanner. The form of thejniot-or and the control therefor doesnot enteririto-ithis invention. a w 1 What.Icla i1n-is: i

' 1. In a garment pressing machine, in; com bination, cooperative pressingelements, one of which is movable towardqand from-the other to openandclose the press; actuating mechanism for the movable pressing element includinga toggle; operating mechanism for said actuatingmechanism ;,connecting means between th e' operating mechanism and the toggle to movethetoggle towardstraightened position and bring the movable press-- ing eiementintopreliminary closed position; and means operated, by said connecting means, when the movablepressing element reaches preliminary; closed posi-tiony; to

lengthen one of the links of the-toggleand apply heavy pressureto the pressing ele- V 2. In a garment pressing machine, in com-: bination, cooperative'pr-essing elements, one

of which is' movable toward and'fromtheother to open and close the press; actuating. mechanism for the movable pressing velement including toggleyoperating mechanisms for said actuating nechanism connecting means between the operating mechanism and the toggle to, move the toggle toward straightened position and locking means, in

eluding a plurality of-friction surfaces which are brought into contactby the connecting meanswhen the movable pressing element encounters resistance, for frictionally locking the toggle in anindefini-te number of'su'bst-antiallystraightenedpositions-J I 3-. In a garment pressing -machine,'in com-.q

bina-tion, cooperative pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the otherto open and close thepres-s; actuating mechanism for the movablejpressing element including a toggle; operating'mechanism for said actuating mechanism; connecting means between the-operating mechanism and the toggle to move the toggle toward straightened position and move the movable 1press-.

ing element into prelin'iinaryclo'sed position; means, operated by the connecting means when the movable pressing elementreaches preliminary closed position, for extending one linkof the toggle to applyheavy pressure to the pressing elements; and locking means for'holding the toggle against folding during 4. In a pressing machine,asuitable'frame; T

the extension of the link. I

1 rame and "to said member, oneof the links including an extensible member operable to lengthen the link, connecting means between .thereciprocating actuator and the toggle to straighten the toggle, and means to actuate the extensible member during the closing of the press.- j

5. In a'pressing machine,a suitable frame; cooperating pressing elements, one ofwhich V is movable toward and froin'the' other, m'eans for'actuating' the movable element including amemb'er connected to the movable element, areclprocatmg actuator, a togglecomp'rising V cooperating pressing elements, one. of which links pivoted together at their inner ends and pivoted at their outer ends respectively to the frame and to said member,'one of the links including an extensible member operable to lengthen the link, movable cam means carried one of the links and coacting with the said extensible member, and a connection between'theactuator andthe cam means.

6'. In a pressingmachine," a suitable frame; cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; means for actuating the movable elementin'cluding member connected to the movable element;

arecip'rocating actuator; a toggle comprising links p voted together at their inner ends and pivoted at their outer ends respectively to the frame and to saidm'ember, one of the links including an extensible member operable to lengthen thelink; movable cam means carried by one of the links and located in position to thrust said extensible member in a' direction to lengthen the 1ink-;an d a rock armlconn'ecte'd-to the cam means to actuate itysaid rockarm being pivoted to and arranged atan" angle to the actuator.

7 In a pressing mach'ne, a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other,m'eans for actuating the movable element including a lever. connected to the movable element, a

reciprocating actuator,a toggle comprising links pivoted together at their inner ends and pivoted at their outer endsres'pectively" tothe frame and to said lever, one of thelinks including a'm'ember operable to lengthen'the link,-a rotatable-cam carried by one of the links. at a point spaced from the joint of the toggle and coacting with said member "to lengthen the link, and a rock arm mounted concentric with the cam to rotate the cam, said-rock arm being arranged atan angle to the actuatorand pivoted thereto; p y r n In apiessing mach'ne, a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements; one of which ismovable toward and fromthe other, means teas-e95 for actuating the movable element including a'niember connected to the movable element, a reciprocatlng actuator, a-toggle comprising frame and to saidmember, one of the links including two members, one being movable with respect to'the other-to lengthen the two member links, movable cam means carried by one of the links and coacting :with a member of the two m'em'berlink and a connection between the actuator and the cam means, one ofthe tog 1e links having a movement relatively to t e joint of the toggle, means for resisting said movement relative to the joint, and coa-cting locking elements carried by the toggle links respectivelyand operable into,

and out of locking position by themovement of the link member relative tothe joint. 7

9. In a pressing machine,'a suitable frame,

pivoted at their outer-ends respectively to the frame and to said member, oneof the links comprising two members movable with respect to one another, to lengthen the two member link, movable cam means carried by one of the members of the two memberlink and co'acting Withth'e other-inemberiof said two'member link, a motion transmitting.con-

nection between the actuator and the cam means, andimeans operable bythe movement of said connection relatively to the actuator to lock the toggle links in straightened positio'n.

- 10. In a pressing machine; La!" suitable frame, cobperating pres'singelements, one- 0f which is movable toward and from: the other, means for actuating the movable element including a member connected to the movable; element, alreciprocating actuator, a toggle comprising links pivotedtogether at't-heir in.- ner ends and'pi'voted at their outerends respectively to the frame and tos'aid member, one ofthe links comprising two members, one being movable with respect, to the other to lengthenthe two member link, movable cam means ca-riid by oneof the'links and 7' coacting with a member oi-the two member link, a motion transmittingconnection between the actuator/and the camxmeans, and

means operable bythe movement of said con.-

'necti'on relatively t'o th'e toggle-to Block" the toggle links in straightened position, and means for initially resisting relative movement of the said connection and'the toggle until the toggle straightens;

11. In a pressing machine cooperating.

pressing elements, one *of whichisfmovabl'e.

toward and from the other,'ineans'for acmati'n'g the movable element including anew tuator, a toggle connected to the movable element and connections: between the actua tor and the toggle to successively straighten and'locl; thet'oggle in any one of an indefinite-number' of substantiallystraightened positi ons, and means for initially resisting the locking operation until the'toglgle straight ens.- v A J 12. In a pressing machine, a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including a member connected to the movable element, a reciprocating actuator, a toggle comprising link members pivotally jointed together and pivoted respectively to the frame and to said member, the joint of the toggle including a connection permitting movement of one link member relatively to the other, and means for resisting such movement, one of said toggle link members being pivoted at its outer end to the part to which itis pivoted by a connection permitting movement and also including a rod member extending lengthwise thereof pivotally mounted on the pivot pin connecting said movable link member tovsaid part, the rod member having a cam follower at its inner end, a cam rotatably mounted on one of the links and coacting with the follower, the cam having a rock arm, said rock arm being pivotedto the actuator and extending at an angle thereto.

13. In a pressing machine, a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including a member connected to the movable element, a reciprocating actuator, a toggle comprising link members pivotally jointed together and pivoted respectivelyto the frame and to said member, the joint of the toggle including a connection permitting movement of one link member relatively to the other, and means for resisting such movement, the movable link member being pivoted at its outer end to the part to which it is pivoted by a connection permitting longitudinal movement, said movable link member also including a rod member extending lengthwise thereof and pivotally mounted on the pivot pin connecting said movable link member to said part, the rod member having a cam follower at its inner end, a cam rotatably mounted .in the movable link member and coacting with the follower, the cam having a rock arm, said rock arm being pivoted to the actuator and extending at an angle thereto.

'14:. In a pressing machine, a suitable frame, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including a member connected to the movable element, a reciprocating actuator, a toggle comprising links pivoted together forming the joint of the toggle and pivoted respectively to the frame and tolsaid member, the joint, of the toggle including a I connection permitting movement of one link relatively to the other,

andmeans for resisting such relative move.- ment, the movable llIlkCOlTlPIlSlIlgi two membars, oneof which is pivoted at its outer end to the part to which it is pivoted by. a connection permitting longitudinal movement and the othermemberbein-g a rod extending lengthwise of the'first member and pivotally mounted on the pivot pin connectingfsaid 3 movable l-ink member to said part,the rod having a cam follower at its inner end, a cam rotatably mounted on the movable link, member and coacting with the follower,- the cam having a rock arm, said rock arm being pivot ed to the actuator and extending at an an le thereto, and a lock operated by the relat1ve movement ofthe movable toggle link. I j 15. In a pressing machine cooperating pressingelementa'one of which is movable toward from the other, means for actuat ing the movable element comprising toggle links pivoted together by a joint permitting movement'of one relatively to the otherwhen the pressing elements initially engage, means forinitially resistingsuch relative movement,

means for efiecting such relative movement, and meansoperated by the relativemovement to hold the toggle linksfromfurther pivotal movement during'the relative movement. 16. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable to: ward and. from the other, means for. actuating the movable element includingan actuator, a toggle, and connections between the actuator and: the toggle to successively. straighten the toggle and extend the toggle during the closing of the press, said connectionsincluding ,t vo connect ng booster parts, means for normally holding thebooster parts. from relative movement, means controlle'd'by the re}- sistance to straightening of the. toggle when the movable element first applies pressure to the other elementto 1 release the holding means, and means to actuatethebooster parts tofextendthe toggle when the holdingmeang is released. a I I a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements one of which is vmovable toward andfrom the other, means for actuating the movable element including an actuator, a

toggle, connections between the actuator and r the toggle to successively straighten and lock the toggle in anyone of an indefinite number i of substantially straightened positions, said connections including two coacting booster parts, means for normally holding the booster parts from relative movement, means controlled by the straightening and locking of the toggle to release ,the booster holding means, and means to actuate thebooster parts to extend the toggle when the holding means is released.

' 18. In a pressingniachine, a suitable frame, p.

cooperating pressing elements, one-of which is movable towardand from the other, means for actuating the movableelement including a member connected to the movable element,

' a reciprocating actuator, a toggle comprising toggle and coacting with said member, and a rock arm mounted concentric with the cam'to rotate the cam, said rock arm being arranged at an angle to the actuator and pivoted thereto, anda lock normally holding the rock arm from rocking the cam, said lock being carried by the otherlink and normallyicoacting'with the camto hold it from rotation and operable to release the cam upon compression applied to the straightened toggle when the netting means to extend the length of the toggle after it has moved towardstraightened position. 7 V

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New Yofkfthis 18th day of April, 1929.. s i ERNEST DAVIS.

:7, can

movable element first presses onthe otherele;

'ment.

v 19. Ina pressing machine, a suitable frame,

cooperating presslng elements, one .of whlch is movable towardand from the other, means for actuatingithe movable'element including amember' connected to the movable element, areciproca'ting actuator, a toggle comprising link members pivotally jointed together and I pivotedrespectively to the frame and tofsaid member, the joint of the toggle including a connection permitting movement of one link member relatively tothe other, and means for resisting such relative movement, the'movable link member being pivoted at its outer end to the partto which itis pivoted byaconnec- I tion permitting longitudinal movement and also including a rod member extending lengthwise thereof pivotally mounted on the Divot pin connecting said radially movable link member to said part, thevrod member havinga cam follower at its inneriend, a cam rotatablymounted in the movable link mem ber'and coacting' with the follower, the cam having a'roclr arm, said rock arm being pivoted to the actuator and extending at an angle thereto. a member having teeththereon associated with the cam, and a detent mounted T on the'joint of the toggle; and having an engaging end normally reacting with said teeth, the teeth being movable out, of engagement with the detent by the compressionof the toggle when the movable elementfirst applies pressure to the other element. K

I 20. In a garment pressing machine in combination cooperative press1ngelements,one of which is movable toward and from the other to open and close the press, actuating mechanism for the movable pressing element' ineluding a toggle, operating mechanism for said actuating'mechan'ism; connecting means between the operatingmechanism and the toggle to move the toggle toward straightened.

position, and means operated by said conjaic 

